Messages

16

The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...

« on: Oct 14, 2010, 09:31 pm »

Puppetry of the Penis came into my venue a while back.  In one of the final gags, one of the "puppeteers" points a fan at the other "puppeteer" who is standing on a skateboard holding his scrotum making a "sail."  I had tied a length of tie-lie attached to the skateboard and on cue, pulled the naked scrotum-sail bearing man towards me into the wings.

17

The Green Room / Re: "Seasoned" - yikes

« on: Aug 04, 2010, 09:05 pm »

I just got called "seasoned"  . . . that seems like an euphemism for "old".  I don't want to be old.

Or it could mean that they think you'd be tasty ...  I'm not sure which is better ...

18

Tools of the Trade / Re: Your own headset

« on: Jul 23, 2010, 05:36 pm »

Great link KMC.  Dee, look into Production Intercom for more affordable CC compatible gear.

19

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Accidentally Set Off Building Alarm: What would you do?

« on: Jul 14, 2010, 06:20 pm »

If you're not listed as a property representative with the alarm company, call someone who is.  In a perfect world, there should be PR contact numbers beside the alarm panel.  If you can't get in touch with anyone, wait for the police outside the building and explain what happened.  It is a lot easier for the attending officer if you are there and can explain rather than having them arrive at an insecure building with the alarm going and then having to go take the time to clear the building, etc, etc.

No need for tears.  Setting of an alarm isn't a big deal.  We've all done it ...

20

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CAST: Practical jokes on final performance?

« on: Jun 27, 2010, 01:36 pm »

I usually find that a stern lecture has almost no effect.  The method I've found works the best is to say "I know I don't need to tell you this, because I know you're all much too professional to even consider practical jokes, but I'm going to say it anyway.  Tonight's audience has paid the same amount of money as everyone else to see this show, and so they deserve to see the same show as everyone else got to see - please can we make sure they do.  Thanks"

That's almost word for word what I say and I usually add, "we've spent X weeks and a lot of blood sweat and tears to make this the great show that it is.  Don't throw all that work away for a silly gag."

21

Tools of the Trade / Re: What gloves do you use when you're pulling ropes?

« on: Jun 12, 2010, 12:17 pm »

I've never tried the fingerless sailing gloves but am intrigued.  Usually I use roping gloves.  Its probably a symptom of where I live.  Way more cowboys here than sailors ... 

22

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Transferring to Canada

« on: Jun 05, 2010, 01:57 pm »

Take a look at the National Theatre School http://www.ent-nts.ca/en/.  I would argue that it is the best production program in the country (and no, I didn't go there).

If you're looking for a university based program as opposed to the conservatory style at NTS, the University of Toronto, McGill University and the University of Alberta would be the schools I would look at.

23

Tools of the Trade / Re: Production Intercom Headsets

« on: May 04, 2010, 03:05 am »

Pretty basic headset, they work fine, don't weight too much, are moderately comfortable ...

If you are looking to invest in something for yourself and are going with something from PI, I would recommend the 710.  Light weight and a little more comfortable.  It's too bad the 510 isn't manufactured anymore, those were nice! 

Have you looked at the Clear-Com CC-26?

24

The Green Room / Re: SMs in media?

« on: Apr 17, 2010, 08:19 pm »

"Sing Faster" is on YouTube, pretty amusing and some fantastic backstage views of the Met.

Sing Faster is great, but its San Francisco Opera, not the Met.

I stand corrected.  Still, very impressive.

25

The Green Room / Re: SMs in media?

« on: Apr 17, 2010, 02:57 pm »

"Sing Faster" is on YouTube, pretty amusing and some fantastic backstage views of the Met.

26

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: New to SMing

« on: Apr 04, 2010, 03:43 pm »

I fully agree with everything that has been said here.  You certainly don't need a theatre degree to work in theatre.  My degree is in History and I'm able to make a living in the industry.

27

Stage Management: Other / Re: The Magic Flute: Recordings?

« on: Apr 02, 2010, 09:41 pm »

I have a box set from Telarc of Sir Charles Mackerras conducting Flute, Cosi, Don Giovanni, and Figaro in their entirety.  I believe however you can buy them individually as well.  They're good recordings, I listen to them regularly.

28

The Green Room / Re: How do you "play?"

« on: Mar 07, 2010, 01:29 pm »

I've always been a bit of a train nut (ok, way more than a bit!), so I spend a lot of my free time (what's that???) at a small tourist railway about an hour from my home.  Some days I work on the train as a Conductor or Brakeman or others on the steam locomotive as the Trainee Fireman.  It is pretty cool to work on equipment that was built before your Grandparents were born!



Sorry, I don't have any pictures of me wearing stripped overalls ... 

29

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SHOWS: What's the most controversial show you've ever worked on?

« on: Feb 27, 2010, 10:43 pm »

Wow, some people have too much time on their hands.

We recently presented a show called "The Erotic Anguish of Don Juan" by the Old Trout Puppet Workshop of Calgary, Alberta.  I have no idea how this person got the email addresses of the technical staff, but we got emails condemning filth we were spreading with tax payer dollars and how she regrets voting for the performing arts centre referendum 10 years ago and we should all be ashamed of ourselves, etc etc etc.

 

30

Tools of the Trade / Re: Converting PDF Files Back To Word or Excel

« on: Feb 25, 2010, 03:40 am »

This conversion technology has been around for a long time, but within applications one has to pay for.  Maybe this has given us the feeling of security when it comes to our files, assuming that no one will want to plunk down money for these programs, or be daring enough to pirate them.   But it has been a false sense of security, I'm afraid, especially now that the technology is gratis for all. Just another reason, I guess, to let everyone know about these sites. Then an educated choice can be made when sharing files.

This is interesting.  Many times I send out pdf files to ensure they are not edited after I send them out.  This totally changes that. I'm not sure how I would feel if someone took a file I had purposely made into a pdf and changed it into a file that could be edited- it seems very sneaky.

That being said, I ran a few test with my paperwork and none of the excel converted to PDFs then back to excel worked very well (if at all, most came back with an "unable to convert" message).  The word to pdf then back to word worked pretty reliably, right down to correct font selections.